Abstract:
The sample theory of normal diversity indices is complex. Distributionfree methods,
such as the jackknife method, can easily be used to determine confidence intervals
and testing diversity. Jackknife estimates and their variances for a number of different
diversity indices are described in this paper. A simple numerical example is given
for demonstrating this method. Discrimination based on confidence intervals is also
discussed. It is assumed that there is a special correlation between the sensitivity
parameter m and the relative width of confidence intervals in the Hurlbert index family.
It is shown that the usual estimation of the Hurlbert index coincides with the relating
jackknife estimate. For demonstration, diagnoses registered in a set of death certificates
are used. There is a considerable diversity in diagnoses among different diagnostic
groups: the diversity is largest in autopsy reports, whereas it is non-significant
in GP’s reports and in reports of physicians authorized to issue death certificates.
Knowing that autopsy reports tend to be fairly accurate, our research findings seem
to confirm the hypothesis that there is a correlation between reliability and diversity
of diagnoses.
Keywords
Jackknife - Diversity Indices - Death Causes - Diagnostic Vocabulary
